Selling liquor by the druggists.
--Several of the city papers alluded, a short time since, to the fact that four of the druggists doing business here had been arrested by order of the
Assistant Provost Marshal for selling liquor in an unauthorized manner.
We are enabled, by the courtesy of one of the parties concerned, to lay before our readers an official copy of the proceedings of the
Court Martial in their case.
In doing so, it is proper to say, that on their arraignment they severally pleaded that the order to which they had sold the liquor was believed by them to have emanated from a resident city physician, (as directed by law,) but it was afterwards ascertained that the same had been concocted in the office of the
Assistant Provost Marshal.
With this explanation, we submit the proceedings of the
Court Martial, which read as follows:
Headq'rs Department of Henrico, Richmond, Va.,April 14, 1862.
General Orders, No. 14.
At a general Court-Martial, assembled in
Richmond, Va., pursuant to paragraph two,
Special Orders No. 57, headquarters department of Henrico, issued April 2d, 1862 were arraigned and tried--1st,
A. Bodeker; 2d,
John T. Gray; 3d;
John W. Frayser; 4th,
R. W. Powers, upon the following charge:
[charge.]
Sale or disposition of spirituous liquors, or other intoxicating beverages.
To which charge the prisoners severally pleaded not guilty, and the
Court, having considered the evidence, find the accused, each and severally, of the charge not guilty, and do, therefore, pronounce that the said
A. Bodeker,
John T. Gray,
John W. Frayser, and
R. W. Powers, are fully and honorably acquitted.
II.
The proceedings in the foregoing cases are disapproved of by the
Reviewing Officer, who considers that the evidence presented to the
Court fully sustains the charge preferred.
The prisoners are hereby ordered to be released from confinement, and they may congratulate themselves upon having escaped merited punishment.
